Leer feeder



LEER FEEDER Filed May 28, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l July 24, 1934. B.McGovERN ET L 1,967,365

LEER FEEDER Filed May 28, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 u /e 4'0 j gwuentow July24,1934. B, MCGOVERN Er AL 1,967,366

LEER FEEDER Filed May 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwownlozd 4Patented July24,1934 I y 1,967,366

UNITED STATES PATENT ori-Ice LEER FEEDER Byrne McGovermEvansviHe, Ind.,and Adam O. Ketchum, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to Owens-f Illlnois GlassCompany, a corporation of Ohio `Appelation May ze, 1932, serial No.614,142 16 claims. (c1. 19a-.31)

The present invention relates toimprovements including a horizontaltunnel through which arin leer feeders and more partcularly to thatticles of glassware are transported on an end,- type including areciprocating pusher barv or less conveyor 6. The disclosed form of leerbars extending across the receiving end of an feeder is adapted to placearticles of glassware `5 annealing leer. and adapted to push rows ofproduced by two forming machines or in molds go glass articles into theleer at regularA time of different shapes, in two 4separate anddisintervals. tinct groups within the leer tunnel. Thus pack- `Incommercial productionof blown articles of ing of the articles at thedelivery endr of the glassware, it is frequently an advantage, and, inleer is facilitated to the extent that operators v fact, necessary toemploy a single leer in annealneed select only for quality. In more orless 65 ing several diierent types of articles, Ordigeneral terms, thefeeder includes a pair of connarily under such circumstances theoperators Veyor belts arranged at the receiving end of removingtheglassware from the delivery end of the leer and traveling alongparallel Paths t the leer for packing. are confronted not alone rightangles t0 the direction of travel of the with the necessity of selectingware for quality, leer conveyor 6, said crOSS Conveyors each Cal'ly- 70but, in addition, separating the articles into ing articles ofglassware. from one forming magroups according to the particular type orde- 4chine to a zone individual thereto in front of the sign. y leer.Reciprocating pusher barsV are operated An object-0f the presentinvention is the pyoautomatically at regular time intervals to trans- ?0vision of means including a plurality of receivfer the groups 0f`bottles 0r Other `articles to 75 ing openings for segregatlng the`different types the 1861' COnVByOr- Suitable. stops 01 gates are ofglassware at theY receiving end 0f the ieei; utilized. `in controllingthe movement of articles whereby each type will be caused to travel t0the transfer DOStOnS, these gates being. aC- through the leer along agivenY individual path. tllited flltOIIlatlly` and H-fmed reatollwith Inthis manner the necessity for grouping the movements 0f thf Pusher, bar;90 articles according to design or size is positively The Spei fOlm 0ffeeder illustrated irlCludeS avoided,Y i n a pair of horizontal innerand outer cross con- Another object is the provision of automaticVGIVOTS 7 and 8 I'GSPGCVelY, arranged Side by `means for handlingbottles produced 0n twg side and extendingacross the receiving end .of

* separate machines or different kinds of bottles the leer 5 inproXimityto and in the same horiformed on one machine, and placing thesebot- ZOIltl plane aS the 1661 90m/85'01"` 6- AThese CIOSS `tles inindividual zones in the leer for transporconveyors are suitablysupported upon a statation through and annealing in the leer. To tionaryframe-9 and are driven by a motor 10 this end the leer feeder includesautomatic operating through speed reduction gearing `11. means fordirecting the articles produced on one A shaft 12 (Fis. 3) providesdriving` COImeC- 90 machine or one mold into one` compartment of tionbetween the outer cross conveyor 8 and the leer tunnel and thearticlesproduced on the said speed reduction gearing 11, While meshing secondmachine or `another mold, into another bevel gears 13 and a shaft 14transmit power part of said tunnel.' to the inner conveyor 7. Forreasons which 40 Other objects Awill be in part apparent and in areapparent, the outer conveyor 8 is caused 95 part pointed out,`hereinafter. Y `to travel ata somewhat higher rate of speed y In thedrawings: o l than the inner `conveyor 7. Obviously, thisv is Fig. 1 isa perspective view illustrating a leer necessary because the outerconveyor is intended feeder embodying the present invention. to delivera group of articles to that side of `.IE5 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sideelevational viewV the leer remote from the machine in the same 10 withparts in Section. Y period of time that the inner conveyor '7 placesFig. 3 iS a fragmentary plan view of the conn a similar group ofarticles on the other side. pleteleer feeder. Avconveyorul (Figs. 1 and4) is adapted to Fig- 1 iS EL fragmentary Dien View llllStIatIlg conveybottles. B or similar articles from one the conveyor upon which thearticles of glassforming machine (not shown) to one end of the 105 wareare carried to the receiving end of the inner cross conveyor 7. Thesearticles are de,- leer. livered to `said cross conveyor; at a constantThe. illustrated embodiment of the present rate of speed. A `verticalpartition v16 orV wall, invention is shown in conjunction with a com isarranged at the-receiving end of the leer and V ventonal form 0fglassware annealing leer 5 in part overliesv the inner conveyor servingas a V110 stop for limiting the eXtent of travel of articlestransversely of the leer on said inner cross conveyor 7. Thus the leertunnel in reality has a plurality of ware receiving openings. Thisparttion definitely divides the receiving end of the leer into twoseparate compartments. The outer conveyor 8 is adapted totransierbottles-orother articles from the second forming machine (notshown) to the inner conveyor at a point beyond the partition 16. A stopplate 17 (Figs. 1 and 4) extends over the inner cross conveyor near theouter end thereof and in proximity to one side wall of the leer 5. Thisstop plate prevents the bottles from passing beyond a position fromwhich they may opening of the leer. to the frame 9 at a point inproximity to the partition 16, for the purpose-of directing articles oi'glassware from the outer conveyor 8 to-the inner cross conveyor 7.

Atregulartime intervals/.pusher bars 19 are operated simultaneously to`transfer groups of articles from the inner: crossV conveyor 7 to theleerconveyor'.y These pusherzbars 19 'which are .individual *to4` thecompartments 'formed' by the central partition 16, are-.suspended on.vertical.arms.20. from.axU-shapedirame 21 which is:connectedithroug-h:parallelzlinks ..22 to a pair of` rock. arms J 23;Theserockarms inraddition to having'theirouter ends connected totthelinks 22.; and a. cross; bar24 4have their inner: ends secured together.by. a bar25, .the latter carryying counterweights 26. The rock arms 23are mounted i'orfswingingmovement in bearings 27 i at'theupperY end-of:brackets'28zlon the upper side of the leer;V A; pair of' cams 29(Figs..29.116.213) iixed toa continuously- .rotating cam shait 30 `forwardlyl ofthe' `bearings 27, are adapted torock'lrthe arms 23 at regular timeintervals andthereby alternately raiser and lower the pusher bars-19.IThese cams 29 engage rollers 31 onthe'rock arms '23. The U-shaped'frame21 (Fig. 1) which directly supports Vthe pusher bars 1.91andisteadying bar-S132' associated with said pusher bars, isconnectedfateach end' tofav bell crank` lever 33.` 'Each bell cranklever '-is-f pivoted' to a hinge pin 34'vv and carries a rolleriengaging a continuously yrotatingcarn 3'6. The camsf36 a1e'-mountedupon the-oppositehends oif'thev cam shaftv 30 outwardly fromandlinlproximity tothe pusher lbar lifting cams 2'92 Goil-springs137constantly place the levers 33 under tensioniwith the resultthattheyexert a-forwardipressure on the' pusher bars V19.

With theabove construction continuous rotation of thepam' shaft'Seeiects at regular time intervals iol-'ward movement -of the pusherbars to transferVv groups oi articles from the inner cross conveyor 7 tothe leer conveyor 6. The completion ofi this Aforward-'movement isvimmediatelyr followed by liftingof' the pusher bars to a planeabovetheupperends of the articles and then'alreverse movement oi saidibars andloweringthereof to' the vstarting position approximately-overfthedividinglinebetween-the inner and outer;A cross. conveyorsA 7 and 8. Inthis latter -positionitheilfiarsare held stationary untiladditionallcomplete groups of articles are formed yin .rows 'uponthe'innerconveyor.

For thev purpose 'oi periodically stoppingmovementv oibottles lwith thecross Aconveyors 'from positions at one side of the leery tothe transferposition lin iront of Vthe. receiving opening, so 'that'ther pusher.barsv may freely and without interference transfer groups of bottles tothe `oi'a pair of vertical rock posed in aplane between the two 'DepllShGd--llwl the receiving- `orsi'Y-and-B and that'the gates when notoperatleer conveyor, we have provided means operating in timed relationwith movement of the pusher bars for eiecting such periodic stopping ofthe forward movement of the bottles or other articles. A pair ofhorizontal swinging gates 38 (Figs. 1 and 4) one for each of the crossconveyors 7 and 8, arefarranged over and in proximity to the uppersurface oi said conveyors just outside oi the line of the leit verticalwall of the leer 5. These gates are fixed to the lower ends shafts 39which are journaled in bearings 40 on a stationary frame 41; It will benoted that the shafts are discross conveyingfare disposed substantiallyalong a line between said conveyors. The gate 38, intended to swing overthe outer cross conveyor 8, cooperates with a stationary block 42 inmomentarily retarding the advancing movement of articles oiglassware onsaid conveyor. The other gate cooperates. with a side rail 43 in a likemanner for momentarily retarding the progress of articlesl along theinner cross conveyor 7.

These gatos are operated at regular time intervals by rocking of theshafts 39. For this purpose the upper ends of the rock shafts 39 areconnected through links 44 to one end of a push rod 45. This rod is inturn connected to a bell crank lever 46' which is pivoted to a hinge pin47 and carries a cam roll 48 riding upon a rotary cam 49. It will beobserved that this cam 49 is ixed to one end o the cam shaft 3U. A coilspring 50 yieldingly holds the cam roll in engagement with the cam 49causing said roller to clearly follow the precise contour ofthe cam. Thecams which operate the pusher bars and said gates are of such form andso relatively positioned upon the shaft 30 that just prior to forwardmovement of the pusher bars 19,' the gates 38 are moved across theirrespective conveyors 7 and 8, and are scheld until the pusher bars havebeen returned to their starting point.

It is necessary to provide a movable gate 51 on the innery end oi thepusher bar 19 at the right hand side of the leer in order that apassageway may be provided permitting movement of bottles or likearticles from the outer lcross conveyor 8 to the inner cross conveyor 7and at the same time provide means whereby a pusher bar of sufficientlength to engage all articles-ory bottlesV oi a group to be transferred,will be available. This gate 51 in effect forms an extension on the-inner end of the pusher bar 19Y remote Vfrom the forming machine (notshown) and is pivoted to a vertical rock shaft 52 extending` upwardlyfrom said pusher bar and connected through a bell crank lever 53 to apush rod 54, the latter extending lengthwise of the leer and pivoted toa rocker arm 55. This rocker arm 55 is connectedto a push rod 56 havinga cam roll 57 at one end constantly engaged with a'cam 58 onthe camshaft 30. This cam is of such shape and so positioned with respect tothe other cams on the shaft 30 that it closes the gate 51 during thebottle transferring operation and opens said gate during the-time thatthe two groups or" bottles or other articles are being placed in rows onthe inner cross conveyor 7.

In order to simplify operation of the leer feeder asa whole, the camshaft 30 which carres the cams controlling the-various movements of thepusher bars and gates, is continuously rotated/by the aforementionedmotor 10 (Fig. 3),` `power fbe'ing, obtained from the shaft 14 andtransmitted Lthrough'meshing bevel gears' 59 andza `sprocket chain 60,the latter being trainedY overa .pair-of sprockets 6,1, one of which isiixed to.` one end of'the cam shaft `30. f iFItfis desirable inorder toconserve heat an materially facilitate temperature control in the leertunnel, toiclosethe receiving end of the leertunnel to'the greatestextent vpermitted by theriheight of bottlesor' other articles beingdeliveredto` the leer. According tothe present construction-,1 gates 62individual to the twocompartmentsware `providedwThese `gatesarerarranged one `onxeach side of the partition 16 and connectedtoYvrods 63 extending vertically upwardandsuitably supported in brackets64.' By rotation ofy these rods the `gates may be individually adjustedfor height. Lock screws A65 extendingfthrough; slots 66 inthe gates andthreaded intoportions ofthe leer frame are em'- ployed toseoure-thegates in any adjusted position.V ,A i i ,g From Athe above it will beapparent that in .operation (considering the leer to be handling inseparate compartments or Zones the articles of glasswareproduced on twoblowing machines) ltheaiarticlesfrom one machine will be deliveredtoethef outer cross conveyor 8 and thence to the outerend portion of theinner cross conveyor `'I while the articles from the second machinenwillbe delivered directly to the inner cross-conveyor., 'I'he centralpartition 16 divides `the bottles `-into two distinct groups so that`the operators at lthe delivery end of the leer will` be confrontedonlywith` the necessity of}seleotng the `articles according to qualityfor packing, Immediately after two complete rows viol. groups of bottleshave been `placed upon the inner conveyor `7fin front `of the two pusherbars, the gates 38 automatically ,swing away-from each Aothervto retardmovement of-,ware which normally advance to a position infront.ofgtheyreceivingopening. At thesame `time the gate 51 on one ofthe pusher l,bars is closed. Immediately vthe pusher `bars will moveforwardv `transferring thev two groups or rows of bottles to the leerconveyor 6 and will thereafter 4return to the startingpoint which isapproximately on aline between the two cross conveyors. 'I'he gates 38and 51 will open, and movement ofthe articles of glassware to theirposition in front of the `pusherbars will again be effected;

While it has been brought out that the leer feeder is adapted to handlearticles produced onV twoY different machines and maintain the Ware intwo separate groups, it is readily conceivable ,that two or moredifferent types of ware produced on a single machine might besimilarlyhandled. Y f v Y y Modifications may be resorted to within thespirit'and scope of the appended claims. v What we claim is:

1`. A leer comprising a leer conveyor, cross conveyors arranged side byside and extending 'transversely andadjacent one end `of `the' leer,'conveyor; means'for placing' articles upon the `cross conveyors `atone side ofthe leer,` means `for arranging theA articles in groups uponthe cross conveyor adjacent the leer conveyor prior tof their transferto the latter, and automatic meansfor' `transferring the articles to theleer conveyor. i

f 2.',A leer comprisingv a tunnel having ,a reposed at right angles tothe leer conveyor in proximity to the receiving opening, means forplacing articles upon` the cross conveyors at vone 'y side of thereceiving opening, means causing movement of articles to thecrossconveyor adjacent the leer conveyor and arranging the articles in groupson said cross conveyor prior `to the transfer operation, and automaticmeans transferring the groups of articles to the leer conveyor. 5

3. A leer' comprising a'tunnel having a receiving `opening at one end, a'leer "conveyor extending through said tunnel, cross conveyors disposedat right angles to the leer conveyor in proximity to the receivingopening, means for placing articles upon the cross conveyors at onesideof the receiving opening, means causing movement of articles to thecross conveyor adjacent the leer conveyor and arranging Vthe articles ingroups on said cross conveyor prior to the transfer operation, automaticmeans for transferring the groups of articles to the leer conveyor, randautomatic means for Vstopping movement of articles in the direction oftravel of the cross conveyors during the transferring operation.

4. A leer comprising a tunnel having a receiving opening at oneV end, aleer conveyor estending through said tunnel, cross conveyors disposedat-right angles to the leer conveyor in proximity to the receivingopening, means for placing articles upon the cross conveyors Yatone sideof the receiving opening, means causing movement of articles to thecross conveyor adjacent the leer conveyor and arranging the articles ingroups on said cross` conveyor Vprior to the transfer operation,automatic means `for transferringthe groups of articles tothe leerconveyor, and automatic means including gates individual to the` crossconveyors for preventing movement of articles to positions in frontV` ofthe` receiving opening during thetransfer operations.

5. In combination, a leer comprising a tunnel having a transverse seriesof receiving openings at one end, a leer conveyor within the tunnel,cross conveyors individual to the receiving openings arranged side bysideand extending transversely of the leer in proximity to saidopenings, means for placing articles on the cross conveyors at one sideof the leer, means for arranging the articlesv in groups on the crosslconveyor adjacent the leer conveyor in front of the receiving openings,and means for transferring Ythe groups of articles to the leer conveyorby wayof said openings.

6.A In combination, a leer comprising a tunnel having a transverseseries of receiving openings at one end, a` leer conveyor within thetunnel, cross conveyors individual to the receiving openings arrangedside by side and extending 'trans- `versely of the leer in proximity. tosaid openings, means for placing articles on the cross conveyors at one,side of the leer, means forplacing the articlesl in separate groups onthe cross conveyor adjacent the leer, said groups being individual tothe cross conveyors and receiving openings, and means fory transferringthe groups of articles to the leer conveyor.

7. In combination, a leer comprising a tunnel having; a pair ofreceiving 4openings arranged side by side at one end,` a leerconveyorwithin said tunnel, a pair of cross conveyors arranged ico side by sideand extending transversely of the leery in proximity to the receivingopenings, means for effecting separate grouping of the articles in frontof thefreceiving openings on the cross conveyor adjacent the leer, andmeans for transferring the groups of articles to the leer conveyorbyvvay of said openings.

8. In combination, a leer comprising a tunnel having aY pair ofreceiving openings arranged side by side at one end, a leer conveyorwithin said tunnel, a pair of cross conveyors arranged side by side andextending transversely of the leer in proximity to the receivingopenings, means for effecting separate grouping of the articles in frontof the receiving openings on the cross conveyor adjacent the leer, meansfor transferring the groups of articles to the leer conveyor by Way ofsaid openings, and means for stopping movement of articles to positionsin front of the receiving openings during the transferring operation.

9. In combination, a leer comprising a tunnel having-a pair of receivingopenings arranged side by side at one end, a leer conveyor Within saidtunnel, a pair of cross conveyors arranged side by side and extendingtransversely of the leer in proximity to the receiving openings, meansfor effecting separate grouping of the articles in frontv of thereceiving openings on the cross conveyor adjacent the leer, means fortransferring the groups of articles to the leer conveyor by Way of saidopenings, gates individual to the cross conveyors and mounted formovement into and out of position over the cross conveyors forperiodically retarding movement of articles to the zones in front of thelreceiving openings, and automatic means for actuating said gates intimed relation With the article transferring operations.

10. In combination, a leer comprising a tunnel having a pair ofreceiving openings arranged side by side at one end, a leerconveyor'within said tunnel, a pair of cross conveyors varrangedside bysideand extending transversely of the leer in proximity to the receivingopenings, means for effecting separate grouping of the articles in frontof the receiving openings on the cross conveyor adjacentthe leer, meansfor transferring the groups of articles to the leer conveyorby Way offsaid openings, gates individual tov the cross conveyors and mounted formovement intoand out of position over the cross conveyors forperiodically retarding movement of articles to the zones in front of thereceiving openings, and cam mechanism operating said gates in timedrelation with the article transferring operations.

1l. In combination, a leer comprising a tunnel having a pair ofreceiving openings at one end, a leer conveyor within the tunnel, a pairof cross conveyors arranged side by side and extending transverselyofthe leer in proximity to the receiving openings, a wall extendingforwardly from the leer over the adjacent cross conveyor, said Walladapted to stop movement of articles and thereby assemble groups ofbottles in front of'one of the receiving openings, means for directingarticles from the other cross conveyor tosaid cross conveyor adjacentthe leer and assemble the articles in groups in front of the otherreceiving opening, and means for transferring said groups of articles tothe leer conveyor.

12. In combination, a leer comprising a tunnel having a pair ofreceiving openings at one end, a leer conveyor within the tunnel, a pairof cross conveyors arranged side by sider and'xextending transversely ofthe leer in proximity to the receiving openings, a. Wall extending;forwardly from the leer over the adjacent cross conveyor,'.said Walladapted to. stop movement of articles and thereby assemble groups ofbottles in front of one ofthe receiving openings, means for directingarticles from the other cross conveyor to said cross conveyoradjacentrthe leer and assemble the articlesin groups in front'iof theother receiving' opening, pusher bars individual to the openingsv fortransferring the groups of articles to the leer conveyor, means foreffecting simultaneous movement of both pusher bars, and a movable gateforminga part f of one pusher barand operable periodicallyto provide apassageway throughI which 'articles may be moved from 'one' crossconveyor't'ovthe other.

13. In combination, a leer comprising a tunnel having a pair ofreceiving openings at .one end, a leer conveyor Within the tunnel,avpair. of cross conveyors individual to the receiving openings arrangedside by side and extending'transversely of the leer in proximity tosaidopenings, means for effecting groupingof articles in front of one of thereceiving openings on the cross conveyor adjacent the leer, means fordirecting articles from the other cross conveyor to said cross conveyoradjacent the leer and grouping them in front of the second receivingopening, means for transferring the groups of articlesY to the leerconveyor, and automatic means including gates individual'toand movableover said cross conveyors periodically to prevent movement of articlesinto zones in front of the receiving openings during the articletransferring operations.

14. In combination, a leer comprising a horizontal tunnel having a pairof receiving openings arranged side by side at one end, a leer conveyorWithin the tunnel, a -pair of crossconveyors individual to the receivingopenings arranged side by side and extending transversely K of theyleerin proximity to said openings, means for placing articles on the crossconveyors at one side of the leer,means for directing articles from thecross conveyor'remotefrom'the leer to the other cross conveyorWherebythe articles are arranged in groups in front of 'the receivingopenings, gates movable across the cross conveyors at regular timeintervals to stop'travel of articles into the zones in frontof saidreceiving openings, devices for transferring-the groups of. articles tothe leer conveyor, and means `for actuating said-devices and gates insynchronism.

15. In combination, a leer comprising a horizontal tunnel having a pairof receiving openings arranged side by side at one end, va leer conveyorwithin the tunnel, a pair of cross conveyorsindividual to the receivingopenings arranged side by side and extending transversely of the leer inproximity to said openings, means-for placing articles on the crossconveyors at one side of the leer, means for directing articles from thecross conveyor remote from the leer to-theother cross conveyor wherebythe articles are'arranged in groups in front of the receiving openings,gates movable across the cross conveyorsV 'at regular time intervals tostop travel of articles into the zones infront of said receivingopenings, devices for transferring the groups of' articles'ito the leerconveyor, and means including a` continuously rotating cam shaftandcams'rotating therewith for actuati in synchronism.

16. In combination, a h

orizontal conveyor, an inner cross conveyor an d an outer crossconconveyor, means for p inner cross conveyor ng said devices and gates

